MR versus PTM

[Blue Menace]

Okay folks, I'm confused. I thought I understood the difference between the magnetic ride suspension and performance traction management. Reading the list of confirmed knowns about the ZL1 has me confused again. If both MR and PTM have different settings (3 and 5 respectively), how do they coordinate together?

[radz28]

The MR shocks should interact with the PTM in such a way to allow enough weight transfer to get off the line quicker.

For example: You tell the PCM (I'm guessing it's the powertrain control module that controls the PTM and MR... if it's another computer, then I stand corrected ) what mode you want - for example: Drag Mode. The PCM should then tell the MR to loosen the front shocks and tighten the rear a tiny bit to allow the nose to come up and move the weight to the rear tires, applying more load and increasing friction, thereby making the car stick harder. In addition to the MR, on an M6-car, the PCM should also dictate spark advance to LSA (likely retard it, reducing power). When you're foot's to the wood, the PCM is making LSA hold, say, 4000 RPMs, so when you let off the clutch, LSAs power is reduced just enough to keep the tires from blowing off, but so much that ZL1 won't bog coming out of the hole.

The bottom line is, I believe PTM is the major system that controls ZL1's powertrain. It will tell the ABS to activate under extreme circumstances to control wheel spin (and help prevent a crash or losing control); reduce spark to lower engine power to prevent wheel slip; either tighten or loosen the MR shocks to optimize weight transfer and keep the tires in contact with the ground (remember it reads 1000-times a second, so the computer's always looking for suspension input to dictate the viscosity of the shock fluid so it's optimized for touring (soft - comfortable ride), sport (racetrack), or sport 2 (dragstrip with VHT)); hold LSA's engine speed to a certain limit for a good start off the line. MR, ABS, LC, and Stability Control are all sub-systems of PTM, or maybe an even greater umbrella I'm not considering.

PTM will have FIVE settings
MODE 1: TC for wet conditions, with ESC "On" and MR on "Tour"
MODE 2: TC for dry conditions, ESC "On" and MR on "Tour"
MODE 3: TC on "Sport 1", w/ESC "On" and MR set to "Sport"
MODE 4: TC on "Sport 2", ESC "Off" and MR on "Sport"
MODE 5: TC on "Race", w/ESC "Off" and MR on "Track" for tracks with VHT

[Blue Menace]

Okay, awesome. So there are 2 settings each for tour and sport and one setting for track? Hit the button a certain number of times and you're good to go? Too..flipping...awesome!!

[IOMZL1]

I think radz28 is right…

MR, TC, etc. are their own entity that could (can, maybe?) be set however you like, but PTM puts the ‘whole car’ into the particular mode you’ve selected. Instead of 10 buttons, one for each sub system, PTM is an 'easy button', or ‘ZL1 for dummies’ if I’m thinking of it correctly.

[Scarrzz]

Originally Posted by IOMZL1

I think radz28 is right…

MR, TC, etc. are their own entity that could (can, maybe?) be set however you like, but PTM puts the ‘whole car’ into the particular mode you’ve selected. Instead of 10 buttons, one for each sub system, PTM is an 'easy button', or ‘ZL1 for dummies’ if I’m thinking of it correctly.

They built a car JUST for ME !



.

[radz28]

Originally Posted by Blue Menace

Okay, awesome. So there are 2 settings each for tour and sport and one setting for track? Hit the button a certain number of times and you're good to go? Too..flipping...awesome!!

I was hoping I didn't make it worse trying to explain it. I have some work to do in my FAQ so it's easier to read. But, yes - the way I understand it is the way you took my explanation I think it'll be good for a lot of us. I'm still going to try the old fashioned way, though That doesn't mean I'll be quicker, but it might be a little more fun.

I'd encourage you to get a good look at the "Phase 2" video in the second post on the FAQ I put together. I finally got the Youtube links in there, so all you have to do is click a couple times. I think you'll get a better idea what to do after watching the video

Originally Posted by IOMZL1

I think radz28 is right…

MR, TC, etc. are their own entity that could (can, maybe?) be set however you like, but PTM puts the ‘whole car’ into the particular mode you’ve selected. Instead of 10 buttons, one for each sub system, PTM is an 'easy button', or ‘ZL1 for dummies’ if I’m thinking of it correctly.

I hope we can disable everything (minus ABS) - stability, TC, PTM, LC, and all that. I would like the option to actually control the car, not pilot it all the time, like it's an F-22 or something, lol. That's a complaint I've seen with the Merc' and Chrysler cars. You couldn't always turn off the TC, so drifting and such was almost impossible.

[radz28]

Originally Posted by Scarrzz

They built a car JUST for ME !



.

+2!

[toilets]

Light reading for you if you are bored... there was a write up about it...

For us autoxers this car just got that much better, here is why.

Similarly, on a road course, the driver can apply full throttle when exiting a corner and PTM will automatically manage acceleration dynamics to maximize exit speed based on available traction.


below is the full write up.





Exclusive Performance Traction Management for the race course, and the drag strip
The Camaro ZL1 will also offer Performance Traction Management (PTM) as standard equipment, which is exclusive to General Motors. First introduced on the Corvette ZR1, PTM is an advanced system that integrates magnetic ride control, launch control, traction control and electronic stability control, to enhance performance on the racetrack and drag strip.
For example, the launch control feature (manual transmission only) automatically modulates engine torque for the best possible acceleration without excessive wheel spin. When the driver pushes the throttle to the floor, the system holds a predetermined engine speed until the driver releases the clutch. Then, the system modulates engine torque 100 times per second to maximize the available traction. The system is capable of approaching a skilled driver’s best effort and repeats it consistently.
Similarly, on a road course, the driver can apply full throttle when exiting a corner and PTM will automatically manage acceleration dynamics to maximize exit speed based on available traction.
Five PTM performance levels or modes are available to accommodate the given ambient and track conditions, driver experience/vehicle familiarity and driver comfort levels. They include:

• Mode 1 – Traction control set for wet conditions, with stability control on and Magnetic Ride Control set on Tour.
• Mode 2 – Traction control set for dry conditions, with stability control on and Magnetic Ride Control set on Tour.
• Mode 3 – Traction control set on Sport 1, with stability control on and Magnetic Ride Control set on Sport.
• Mode 4 – Traction control set on Sport 2, with stability control off and Magnetic Ride Control set on Sport.
• Mode 5 – Traction control set on Race, with stability control off and Magnetic Ride Control set on Track. Launch control tuned for VHT-prepped drag strips.

[Blue Menace]

Originally Posted by radz28

I was hoping I didn't make it worse trying to explain it. I have some work to do in my FAQ so it's easier to read. But, yes - the way I understand it is the way you took my explanation I think it'll be good for a lot of us. I'm still going to try the old fashioned way, though That doesn't mean I'll be quicker, but it might be a little more fun.

I'd encourage you to get a good look at the "Phase 2" video in the second post on the FAQ I put together. I finally got the Youtube links in there, so all you have to do is click a couple times. I think you'll get a better idea what to do after watching the video



I hope we can disable everything (minus ABS) - stability, TC, PTM, LC, and all that. I would like the option to actually control the car, not pilot it all the time, like it's an F-22 or something, lol. That's a complaint I've seen with the Merc' and Chrysler cars. You couldn't always turn off the TC, so drifting and such was almost impossible.

Yup, much clearer, thanks. What was throwing me was that both systems seem to have various levels. I can now begin to see how they are integrated together.